Follow the imbalance back to its source
Common problems include imported merchant deposits recorded as new sales, card payments posted as expenses twice, customer advances mixed with revenue and supplier credits left unapplied. We compare the ledger to statements, source documents and earlier financial reports.
The objective is a supported closing balance, not a zero achieved with an unexplained adjustment. Where an old difference cannot be resolved from the available records, the issue belongs on a review list with its possible effect on reports and filed returns.
Preserve the correction trail
We agree a review period, make a backup or export where the software permits, and document significant corrections. Changes affecting locked or filed periods need coordination with the accountant. Bank-feed rules and integrations also need attention so the error does not return next month.
Illustrative example: event deposits posted twice
A Calgary caterer imports booking invoices and separately categorizes processor deposits as sales. The bank reconciliation looks complete, but revenue is overstated. Matching the settlement to the existing customer balance repairs the duplicate and exposes the fees withheld. A revised import rule then separates future bookings, customer payments and processor charges.
Questions about this work
Is cleanup the same as catch-up bookkeeping?
Cleanup corrects entries already in a file. Catch-up reconstructs missing periods. A file can need both, and we scope them separately.
Can you guarantee every old difference will be resolved?
The result depends on the available evidence. We explain unresolved items and recommended next steps instead of hiding them in miscellaneous expenses.
Put this into practice
Sources and current guidance
A practical next step
Bring the records you have.
We can identify missing information, agree on the scope and organize the next bookkeeping step.
Request a bookkeeping review